Machine for printing ik different colors



NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN K. VRIGHT, OF PHILADELPHIA., PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR PRINTING IN DIFFERENT COLORS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 25,075, dated August 9, 1859.

To aZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN K. lVRIGi-rr, of the city and county ofPhiladelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Machines for Printing in Different Colors; and Ido hereby declare the follow'ing to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawingand to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to an improvement in the printing machines forwhich Letters Patent dated Aug. 22d, 1822, were granted to Peter Force,in which is used a system of printing rollers corresponding` in numberto that of the colors employed, for the purpose of printing designs ofdifferent patterns and colors on fabrics at one operation, and myimprovement consists in hanging the rollers for imparting one color, toframes independent of those to which are hung the rollers for printingthe other colors, and the frames being adjustable longitudinally inrespect to each other substantially as set forth hereafter, whether oneprinting roller on each independent frame e used to printL on one sideonly of the fabric, or two rollers be used on each frame for printingboth sides of the fabric simultaneously.

The object of my improvement is to regulate with accuracy the positionon the fabric of the different colors and patterns in respect to eachother.

In order to enable others skilled in this class of machinery to make anduse my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction andoperation.

On reference to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of thisspecification, Figure l, is a side view of my improved machine forprinting in different colors on fabrics. Fig. 2, a sectional elevation.Fig. 3, a ground plan, and Fig. 4L, a portion of the fabric as itappears when being submitted to the machine.

A, is the foundation or base plate of the machine, having twolongitudinal rails B, to each of which are secured four frames C, D, E,and F, those on one rail B, being directly opposite to those on theother rail. The lower ends of the frames fit over the rails so as to beslid thereon without altering their proper lateral position, and eachframe is furnished with a set screw a,`the point of which bears againstthe side of the rail so that the whole of the frames can be readilysecured after adjustment. In suitable boxes on the frame C., turns thejournals of the ianged roller G, which contains the fabric to beprinted. A screw e, passes through one of the frames and bears with itspoint against the `flange of the roller so as to impart the requisitefriction to the latter.

In the opposite frames D, D, turn the journals of the upper and lowerprinting rollers H, and H, and on each side of both rollers are a systemof rollers z', y', lc, and Z, the journals of which also turn in theopposite frames D, D. The surface of the roller Z, of each set, turns inContact with a body of printing material contained in a trough m, whichis secured to the frames, and the material is deposited by this rollerZ, onto the surface of the roller j, by which it is transferred to therollers z', Iand c, and by the last named roller to the upper printingrollerv I-I. A lateral reciprocating motion is imparted to the roller j,by means 0f a cam n on the shaft of the printing roller in conjunctionwith a spiral spring g, on the same shaft, as will be best observed onreference to Fig. 3, sothat the printing material may be evenly spreadonto the roller k, before it is transferred to the printing roller.

rlwo printing rollers I and I, of exactly the same diameter as therollers H and H, turn in the opposite frames E, E, on which are hungfour sets of rollers for transferring the printing material to theprinting rollers, all the rollers being arranged in a manner preciselysimilar to those on the frames D, D. On theframes F, turn the journalsof two flanged rollers J, and J the surface of the upper roller beingpressed closely to that of the lower roller by a set screw on theframes, and both rollers being geared together by cog wheels s. (Fig.3.)

The shaft of the roller J, is the driving shaft of the machine and onthis shaft is a pulley K, a similar pulley being secured to the shaft ofthe printing r-oller I, and another to that of the printing roller H.Motion is communicated simultaneously to these rollers by the chain L,which passes over the pulleys, a cog wheel -on each of the upper rollersgearing into a similar wheel on each of the lower rollers so that thewhole of the rollers may revolve simultaneously in the direction pointedout by the arrows.

lOf

The rollers for transferring the printing material from the troughs m,to the printing rollers are driven from the shafts ofthe latter by asuitable system of cog wheels one of the rollers of each set having alateral motion imparted to it by cams as already described or by anyother suitable device.

In the present instance the surfaces of the printing rollers are formedfor printing miniature flags. On the rollers H, H, are a series of ribscorresponding to the stripes of the flag a portion of several of theribs being cut away in both rollers so as to leave a blank imprintedspace which has to receive the blue ground with white stars by beingsubmitted to the printing rollers I and I, on each of which is a raisedportion corresponding to the size of the blank space in the rollers H,and H, the raised portions' of the rollers having indentati-ons of theform of stars. Both sets of printing rollers are so arranged that theribs and blank spaces on the roller H, coincide with those of the rollerH, the raised portions as well f as the recesses which form the stars ofthe roller I, coinciding with those of the roller I. The fabric is woundaround the flanged roller G, on the frame C, and the ends pressedbetween the printing rollers H, and H, then between the rollers I, andI, and finally bet`ween the friction or drawing rollers J, and J Thetroughs m, for the set of rollers H, and H', are furnished with redprinting material, and those for the rollers I and I, with blue printingmaterial. The machine is then set in motion by turning the shaft of theroller J, in the direction of the arrow. The friction imparted to theroller Gr, by the screw e, (Figs. l and 2,) as t-he rollers J, and Jdraw the fabric forward, tends to keep the latter tight as it issubmitted to the printing rollers. By passing between the rollers H, andH, a series of red stripes will be imparted to both sides of the fabricthe stripes on one side exactly coinciding with those on the oppositeside, a blank space will also be left on both sides to receive theimpression from the rollers I, and I', which print on both sides of thefabric the blue ground with the white stars. After passing between therollers J, and J the fabric may be conveyed over other rollers or rodsplaced at a suitable distance so as to be dried before it is cut intothe requisite lengths.

It will be observed that the accuracy in the position of the red andblue figures in relation to each other, depends upon the exactitude withwhich the frames with the two sets of printing rollers are adjusted,hence the reason of hinging them to separate frames sliding on the railsB, B, of the base plate A.

Although I have illustrated my machine as applied to the printing ofminiature flags, it will be evident that it may be applied to theornamentation of fabrics with different colors and devices, the numberof independent printing rollers on independent frames however must beequal to that of the different colors used.

In printing flags, window shades, and transparencies the machine shouldbe arranged as illustrated in the drawing, but when used for printingwall papers with figures of different colors, or show bills with lettersof different colors one side only of the fabric has to be printed inwhich case one printing roller only on each independent frame, isnecessary, the lower roller being simply used as a pressure roller.

I am aware that a system of printing rollers corresponding in number tothat of the colors employed, for thepurpose of printing designs ofdifferent patterns and colors on fabrics at one operation, is describedand illustrated in the patent granted to Peter Force Aug. 22d, 1822. Itherefore do not y JOHN K. wRIGHT.

Vitnesses:

HENRY HowsoN, CHARLES D. FREEMAN.

